2 arrested on suspicion of sex with young girl

SANTA ANA Two men have been arrested by the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with a girl, according to officials.

Benjamin Avila, 26, and Jose Luis Gonzalez, 63, both of Anaheim, were arrested Thursday on suspicion of molesting a girl 13 or younger, communicating with a minor online and arranging to meet a minor for a lewd act, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Avila's bail has been set at $100,000, and Gonzalez's bail is $1 million. Gonzalez's bail was set substantially higher in part because of a 2000 allegation that he molested a girl younger than 10, said the Sheriff's Department. That case was dismissed.

On Oct. 9, a parent contacted a school resource officer at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo to report an inappropriate relationship between a girl and a man, officials said.

The officer then contacted the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force and the girl, who told investigators she had a sexual relationship with “Alex Valesquez.”

It was later determined that the man the girl knew as Valesquez is Avila, the Sheriff's Department said.

The girl also said she had sex with another man, who she said was “Alex's uncle,” later identified as Gonzalez, the Sheriff's Department said.

Information was not available regarding whether Avila and Gonzalez are related.

The girl said the sexual relationships occurred from March until September, adding that the two men concocted a story that she had to have sex with Gonzalez in order to continue to see Avila, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Anyone with information they believe might assist in this investigation is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at 714-647-7000.

An anonymous tip can be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at
occrimestoppers.org.

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